Jimmy Dean Book joined his beloved wife, Diane Generis Book, on May 16, 2024. Jim & Diane’s survivors mourn the loss of these amazing humans and find peace in the image of them reunited for eternity.
Born in Oklahoma in 1937, Jimmy Dean spent his childhood in north Denver. The only child of James D. & Lillian R. Book (nee Pilcher, eventually Fouts), Jimmy Dean was raised primarily by his mother and grandmother, as James D. Book was frequently away from home for work, up until the time he was so ill he was hospitalized for hypertension. He died young, when Jimmy Dean was only 15. JD attended North High School in Denver. He was fascinated by cars, motorcycles, and guns, not necessarily in that order. He was much less interested in school and left high school early to join the US Marines. During his active service, based at Camp Pendleton, CA, 1955-1959, he earned a Good Conduct commendation, management experience, and a lifetime of memories. He was invited to reenlist, which he declined.
Upon leaving the Marines, JD moved to Albuquerque, NM, to join his mother and her new husband, Ralph B. Fouts.
In Albuquerque, he started work climbing telephone poles for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co., soon to be Mountain Bell. Hard work, good choices, a commitment to learn and grow enabled Jimmy Dean to move from climbing poles to managing Information Technology. He retired from the phone company in 1992.
His work at Mountain Bell also brought his beloved Diane Book (nee Generis) into his path. JD worked with Ed Hawley, who was at the time dating Diane’s best friend, Sue Saner. Diane had mentioned to Ed and Sue that she’d like to date someone with a sports car. JD’s new convertible, red Austin Healy Sprite fit the bill, so they went on a blind date in 1959, and by 1961 were married.
They welcomed children Christina and David shortly thereafter. In 1981, the family moved from Albuquerque to Littleton, Colorado, where Christina and David finished high school. In 1988 Jim and Diane relocated to the Phoenix area, landing in Scottsdale and in 2006, moving to San Tan Valley to be closer to their beloved grandchildren.
JD was a friend to anyone he met, and he delighted in wide-ranging conversations. He cherished connecting with others, and he was fiercely proud of his kids and grandkids. His hobbies included rebuilding historic cars, riding dirt bikes in the desert, target shooting, playing with radio controlled cars and airplanes and eventually drones.
Despite busy schedules and limited budgets, Diane and Jim were committed to taking the family on a road trip each summer, and Christina and David are so grateful for the memories from trips to Disney Land, Yellowstone, Carlsbad Caverns, Elephant Butte Lake, and Colorado.
Diane was near constantly cheerful, the optimist of the family. Diane was a masterful homemaker, interior designer, seamstress, chef, wife, mom, and grandma. She enjoyed painting in acrylics and in watercolors. Her family treasures the work she leaves behind.
Diane passed in January 2020 after a stroke. Her enthusiasm and love for life continue on in the hearts she touched. Jim wasn’t able to ever fully recover from the loss of his beloved bride. He did his best to engage with life for the next few years, departing in May 2024 after a brief decline. Diane and Jim are survived by their children Christina Book (Jonathan Stubbs) and David Book (Kresta Slotten), and their granddaughters, David & Kresta’s children, Lillian, Willow, and Ember Book.
